Properties of biological activity of ten wild almond (Prunus amygdalus L.) species

To compare the antioxidant and antiradical activity of phenolic extracts of different species of wild almond kernels (including the brown skin), 10 wild almond species were selected from Shahindezh and Qasemloo Valley in West Azarbaijan Province, Iran. The fruits of these almonds were collected, their kernels were separated from their hulls and shells and then ground, and methanolic extracts were prepared from the kernels. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and a colorimetric method, respectively. The extracts were also evaluated on their reducing power and their capacity to scavenge for DPPH radicals. Significant differences were found in the phenolic and flavonoid contents of kernels from various species. The radical-scavenging capacity percentage also varied among 6 species at 50 ppm, although 100% radical scavenging was recorded for all species at 100 ppm. The results obtained were quite heterogeneous, revealing significant differences among the species assayed. A. pabotti Browicz and A. orientalis Duhamel revealed better antioxidant properties and the highest antioxidant contents.Therefore, these wild almonds can be used in breeding cultivated almonds and for rootstock improvement.